Naperville Central has eight returning starters, including Riley Silvers, to challenge defending DuPage Valley Conference champion Metea Valley. BENET First-year coach Janet Royal inherits seven seniors, including stalwart shortstop Angela Horejs, from a team that won a Class 4A regional title last year. The Redwings (22-7) should have solid pitching with junior Gianna Cunningham and sophomore Sophie Rosner, who was the East Suburban Catholic Conference pitcher of the year. Rosner’s twin sister, Lanie, will to do the catching. METEA VALLEY Graduation hit the Mustangs (16-13) fairly hard, but they are looking to build on their success from last season, when they won the DuPage Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles. Senior pitcher Charlie Benesh (Salem State) is poised to become the program’s career wins leader. Also back are senior infielder Claire Desrosiers (Concordia), senior outfielder Grace Feeley and senior catcher Sydney Eakin. NAPERVILLE CENTRAL The Redhawks (20-17) nearly won their first conference title since 2015 last season and figure to have a great shot to do it this time. Eight starters return, including the top three hitters in senior first baseman Jamie Saran (Northern Illinois), a 4A all-state second-team pick; senior catcher Riley Silvers (Florida International), a 4A all-state first-team pick; and senior pitcher Shea Meech (St. Ambrose). Naperville North’s Gabi Chmiel (5) runs to first base during a nonconference game against Lincoln-Way Central in Naperville on Friday, April 12, 2024. (Nate Swanson / Naperville Sun) NAPERVILLE NORTH The Huskies (11-23) have 10 returning players looking to bounce back from a difficult 2024 season. Shortstop/pitcher Maddi Larsen (St. Ambrose) and catcher/third baseman Eliza Patterson (Southern Virginia) are fourth-year varsity players. Seniors Ava Matthews (Shenandoah) and Ally Burke (DuPage) and juniors Sarah Rossi (St. Ambrose) and Gabi Chmiel are other impact players. NEUQUA VALLEY The Wildcats (14-18) figure to be strong defensively, especially with the senior battery of pitcher Ava Drehs (Creighton) and catcher Krista Waldusky (Millikin). Drehs struck out a program-record 234 batters in 140 innings last season en route to 4A all-state second-team honors. Junior infielder Nalia Clifford and sophomore outfielder Ashley Pape, both 4A all-state third-team picks, are strong hitters. WAUBONSIE VALLEY The Warriors (15-18) will be rebuilding. Sophomore shortstop Aislee Morgan and senior pitcher Samantha Wiertelak are the only returning players. Both were all-conference in the DVC last season. Coach Valerie Wood expects sophomore outfielder Addison Powell to make a substantial impact at the plate and on the base paths, where Waubonsie Valley intends to be more aggressive. Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter. ...read more read less